Pinks and pastels: Hottest spring fashion trends

Video: Bobbie Thomas, TODAY’s style editor, tells us that skirts and tops in pinks and pastels are leading the pack this season.

It's time to shed some layers and rework your wardrobe. TODAY's style editor and author of "The Power of Style" Bobbie Thomas breaks down the best this season has to offer, and highlights how you can update your look.

Think pink

While pastels in general (lavender, mints, & baby blues) are trending, pink leads the pack this season. Not all pinks are equal, so be sure to blush appropriately. Bubblegum, cotton candy and rose pinks flatter those with cooler red, blue or purple undertones, while more blush, coral and peachy pinks will enhance warmer undertones with more of a golden or green tint. And for those who may feel pinks or pastels are too pretty or soft, add some contrast with accessories. A black belt, bag, shoe or even a deep dark nail polish will offer a sophisticated edge to your ensemble.

Break out the blues, and not just your jeans. While overalls are back (to the delight of teens and twenty-somethings), so are denim dresses, skirts, rompers, skorts and more. A little or a lot works this season, with denim-on-denim still getting a thumbs up. But if you're fearful of a farm cliche, opt for a chambray shirt. The woven blue button-down has really become a modern classic and has never been more en vogue- whether you wear it with your bathing suit or your best bling.

We may all have Coco to thank for the little black dress, but a more recent season-less style movement (and some pun-seeking editors) have nominated the little white dress as wardrobe staple. It too can go from day to night, work to weekend or effortless to elegant with the absence or addition of beauty options and accents. If you don’t have a LWD, it's the perfect time to snag yours from the vast supply in stores this season. The shirt dress in particular is popular, with designers offering up variations from the traditional tailored version to more fit-and-flare feminine silhouettes. Whatever your choice, morph into your mood with accessories. Metallic and lucite will layer a fashion forward futuristic spin, while a braid and some leather sandals channel a more bohemian beach-side vibe.

From floral and tropical, to bold brush strokes and snakeskin, there’s a motif for everyone. Trendsetters will dare to wear, and pair patterns from head to toe, but a little can go a long way too. For the most flattering effect, consider scale (larger patterns can overwhelm smaller frames and vice versa) and direction (vertical-oriented patterns will elongate, while horizontal can help fill). And be sure to see mesh, sheer, laser-cut and more transparent fabrics in a new light. Shadows are Mother Nature's imprint, and this pattern play creates visual interest to consider. A floral print can help balance a sporty perforated fabric for a more polished effect, while a ribbed cotton or loose knit can help leather look softer, more casual for sunny spring days.